Kazakhstan: Tokayev sends foreign minister to Brussels to present government’s view on protests

Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan came to the Brussels Press Club (18 January) to present a summary of the protests and events that took place at the beginning of 2022 in Kazakhstan from the government’s perspective. 

The minister described the events as a major test for the country’s leadership and its people. The presentation was followed by 37 minutes of intense questioning from journalists, including questions from EU Reporter on whether the authorities would be carrying out a full and transparent investigation of the events and whether the government would be responsive to the European Parliament’s resolution that calls for an independent investigation. 

Many journalists asked questions about the use of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). The minister described the involvement of the CTSO as temporary and necessary to restoring order, he also reported that they were already leaving the country. 

One of the purposes behind the briefing was to point out the measures the new government was taking to address some of the underlying causes of concern to demonstrators. Measures include additional efforts to deliver more balance regional development, changes to the public administration to make it more meritocratic, reduction in overall bureaucracy, the creation of a public social fund, large investment in education and measures to help employment, particularly for the young and unskilled.

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